have felt, in knowing that the future management of the
investigation which you have begun will be placed in safe hands. My
dear sir, make yourself quite easy on that point--it will be placed in
MY hands."

"You are, in every way, Mr. Gilmore, much fitter to advise and to act
in the matter than I am. Is it an indiscretion on my part to ask if
you have decided yet on a course of proceeding?"

"So far as it is possible to decide, Mr. Hartright, I have decided. I
mean to send a copy of the letter, accompanied by a statement of the
circumstances, to Sir Percival Glyde's solicitor in London, with whom I
have some acquaintance. The letter itself I shall keep here to show to
Sir Percival as soon as he arrives. The tracing of the two women I have
already provided for, by sending one of Mr. Fairlie's servants--a
confidential person--to the station to make inquiries. The man has his
money and his directions, and he will follow the women in the event of
his finding any clue. This is all that can be done until Sir Percival
comes on Monday. I have no doubt myself that every explanation which
can be expected from a gentleman and a man of honour, he will readily
give. Sir Percival stands very high, sir--an eminent position, a
reputation above suspicion--I feel quite easy about results--quite
easy, I am rejoiced to assure you. Things of this sort happen
constantly in my experience. Anonymous letters--unfortunate
woman--sad state of society. I don't deny that there are peculiar
complications in this case; but the case itself is, most unhappily,
common--common."

"I am afraid, Mr. Gilmore, I have the misfortune to differ from you in
the view I take of the case."

"Just so, my dear sir--just so. I am an old man, and I take the
practical view. You are a young man, and you take the romantic view.
Let us not dispute about our views. I live professionally in an
atmosphere of disputation, Mr. Hartright, and I am only too glad to
escape from it, as I am escaping here. We will wait for events--yes,
yes, yes--we will wait for events. Charming place this. Good
shooting? Probably not, none of Mr. Fairlie's land is preserved, I
think. Charming place, though, and delightful people. You draw and
paint, I hear, Mr. Hartright? Enviable accomplishment. What style?"

We dropped into general conversation, or rather, Mr. Gilmore talked and
I listened. My attention was far from him, and from the topics on
which he discoursed so fl